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Hans On Organizing Time Management Tips:
Time Management
Use only one calendar for personal, professional and family items. This eliminates
scheduling conflicts and you can see, at a glance, where everyone is, or should be, at
any given time.
Setting goals is a key to an organized life. Set a date to meet your goal and then
break the goal down into small steps (mini-goals) which will make your goal easier to
manage and reachable. Add the mini-goals to your current task list and set a date for
each step.
Develop a master task list with all of your pending tasks on it, these would include
tasks associated to your goals. Select four tasks from the master task list each day,
and put them on your daily task list. Try to complete all of the items on your daily task
list each day. Repeat the process the next day, starting with any tasks that were not
completed the previous day.
If you schedule, or set aside, a block of time in your day to accomplish a task related
to your goal, you will make progress toward meeting your goal.
The best way to never forget an appointment or commitment is to write it down on a
task list or schedule the time on your calendar.
Take care of all your errands at the same time. Make all of your telephone calls at the
same time. Plan your telephone calls and make sure you have all the necessary
materials in front of you when you make the call. Write key questions down in advance.
If you have a deadline at the end of the month, record the deadline a few days earlier.
You'll eliminate the last- minute rush to complete the project and the stress that goes
with that rush!
Allocate blocks of time to focus on, or complete, daily activities. Use timers or alarms
to help you stay on schedule.
Catch up on your reading while you wait for appointments. Motivational CDs/cassettes
are a great way to make use of driving time.
Choose the outfit you will wear before you go to bed, help your children do the same
thing to save time in the morning and manage the morning rush.
Tackle your most difficult/important tasks during your most energetic period of the
day. Save the easy tasks for less energetic periods.
Take time to put things back in their place either right after you're finished with them
or at the end of the day.
Write down the directions to places you go to infrequently and keep them in a folder in
your car with other driving directions.
Make a running list for when you have guests. After each dinner party take note of
what you think could have gone better? Then arrange things to make it happen next
time. For example, if you had to rush around at the last minute looking for a trivet to
put the hot vegetables on, add it to your list.
Create reference lists for:
Personal goals and dreams
Birthdays
Favorite restaurant phone numbers
Web sites you'd like to explore
Books you'd like to read
Movies you want to see
Music you want to buy
Things to pack when traveling
Gift ideas for friends and family
Use only one calendar for personal, professional and family items. This eliminates
scheduling conflicts and you can see, at a glance, where everyone is, or should be, at
any given time.
Setting goals is a key to an organized life. Set a date to meet your goal and then
break the goal down into small steps (mini-goals) which will make your goal easier to
manage and reachable. Add the mini-goals to your current task list and set a date for
each step.
Develop a master task list with all of your pending tasks on it, these would include
tasks associated to your goals. Select four tasks from the master task list each day,
and put them on your daily task list. Try to complete all of the items on your daily task
list each day. Repeat the process the next day, starting with any tasks that were not
completed the previous day.
If you schedule, or set aside, a block of time in your day to accomplish a task related
to your goal, you will make progress toward meeting your goal.
The best way to never forget an appointment or commitment is to write it down on a
task list or schedule the time on your calendar.
Take care of all your errands at the same time. Make all of your telephone calls at the
same time. Plan your telephone calls and make sure you have all the necessary
materials in front of you when you make the call. Write key questions down in advance.
If you have a deadline at the end of the month, record the deadline a few days earlier.
You'll eliminate the last- minute rush to complete the project and the stress that goes
with that rush!
Allocate blocks of time to focus on, or complete, daily activities. Use timers or alarms
to help you stay on schedule.
Catch up on your reading while you wait for appointments. Motivational CDs/cassettes
are a great way to make use of driving time.
Choose the outfit you will wear before you go to bed, help your children do the same
thing to save time in the morning and manage the morning rush.
Tackle your most difficult/important tasks during your most energetic period of the
day. Save the easy tasks for less energetic periods.
Take time to put things back in their place either right after you're finished with them
or at the end of the day.
Write down the directions to places you go to infrequently and keep them in a folder in
your car with other driving directions.
Make a running list for when you have guests. After each dinner party take note of
what you think could have gone better? Then arrange things to make it happen next
time. For example, if you had to rush around at the last minute looking for a trivet to
put the hot vegetables on, add it to your list.
Create reference lists for:
Personal goals and dreams
Birthdays
Favorite restaurant phone numbers
Web sites you'd like to explore
Books you'd like to read
Movies you want to see
Music you want to buy
Things to pack when traveling
Gift ideas for friends and family
Helen Hanson,
Professional Organizer
Professional Organizer